India’s largest business women’s organization, the FICCI Ladies Organization, recently met bilaterally with the Philippine Women’s Economic Network, PhilWEN to strengthen economic ties and offer new business opportunities. Both organizations have special interest in women’s leadership and economic participation across borders.
It came under the IAWBF program instituted in 2017 by the late Smt Sushma Swaraj, then the Minister of External Affairs. PhilWEN represents women engaged in diverse sectors, including startups and SMEs, and those holding leadership roles in marginalized communities in the Philippines. The visit by the delegation was an important part of the program. This comprised a visit to the FICCI FLO Industrial Park, the first 100 per cent women-owned industrial park in India-clearly reflecting FLO’s intent to nourish women’s entrepreneurship. The delegation met with Telangana government officials, including Mr Jayesh Ranjan, Special Chief Secretary of ITE&C and Industries & Commerce, Government of Telangana. Debates were conducted based on strengthening collaboration in women-led enterprises and on opportunities in industrial technological sectors. Responding to the sessions, FLO National President Joyshree Das Verma said such debate would help in international collaborations and promote women entrepreneurship.
One of the major conclusions drawn from that conference was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by FLO and PhilWEN to strengthen collaboration in cooperation with each other to advance women’s economic empowerment and networking of women entrepreneurs of both countries. They resolved to assist each other to promote women-owned enterprises, best practices, and initiatives on increasing trade and investment between women-led enterprises.
Vinita Bhimbhet, Chair of India for IAWBF, was underlining both organizations’ commitment toward furthering the objectives of developing and upgrading trade and investment between India and ASEAN countries in order to advance the economic empowerment of women.
